When Jon's consciousness left Harry's mind, the whole thing still felt a little unreal.
But why should something that happened inside someone's head be any less real?
It sounded strange coming from him, but when he thought about it, it made sense. How else could the whole thing work?
He had to experience it himself to weave this part of the story in so neatly. Otherwise, where could Joanne have found such material for her book?
What a remarkable circle.
Meanwhile, Hagrid was carrying Harry toward another battlefield.
Jon followed behind.
At a distance.
He was counting down.
Voldemort was speaking, unaware that there was more to the world than Britain. Beyond the Sleeping Dragon Barrier, a vast upheaval was underway.
It was almost pitiable.
A scream cut through the dawn sky. Neville was on fire, pinned in place and unable to move. Harry could bear it no longer. He had to act—
Then several things happened at once.
They heard a commotion by the school's boundary wall. It sounded as though hundreds of people were surging over the wall beyond sight, shouting as they rushed toward the castle. At the same moment, Grawp lurched around the side of the castle, calling, "Hagrid!" Voldemort's Giants roared in answer. They charged Grawp like bull elephants, shaking the ground. Then came the thunder of hooves and the twang of bowstrings, and arrows flew into the ranks of the Death Eaters. They shouted in surprise and fell into disarray. Harry pulled the Invisibility Cloak from his robes, threw it over himself, and sprang to his feet. By then, Neville could move again.
Neville straightened and broke free of the Full Body-Bind Curse. The burning hat slipped off. From inside it, he drew something silver, with rubies glittering on its hilt—
No one could